Blood
Blood contains hemoglobin and other proteins that coagulate — just like an egg — when exposed to heat. This makes the blood stain permanent if you choose the wrong water temperature.
Step by step
- 1Rinse IMMEDIATELY in cold water — never hot
- 2Fresh stain: cold water often washes most of it away
- 3Older stain: rub in solid soap and let sit for 30 minutes
- 4Make a paste of baking soda + a little cold water for extra stubborn stains
- 5Machine wash at the lowest possible temperature
Tips
Cold water keeps proteins dissolved. Hot water (above ~40°C) denatures hemoglobin — it folds and binds chemically to the fabric. This is the same process that makes an egg solid when you cook it. Once set, the stain is permanent.
Natural products
Super-fatted, recycled raw materials, free from tall oil
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Related stains
Feces
Fecal stains, common on children's clothing.
Deodorant
White deodorant marks on dark garments are aluminum salts that have left the fabric. Yellow stains under the arms are a chemical reaction between aluminum chloride in antiperspirant and sweat proteins.
Lipstick
Lipstick is fat-based with strong pigments.
Mascara
Mascara is fat-based makeup.